Data Analysis

BUSINESS DATA K-12 EDUCATIONAL DATA

"Data analysis is the process of finding the right data to answer your question, understanding the processes underlying the data, discovering the important patterns in the data, and then communicating your results to have the biggest possible impact." Jeff Leek-Johns Hopkins University

Small Business Data

Data Collection

Successful business make data-driven decisions. It is no longer possible to make decisions based on gut reactions or old patterns. Today's customers are not the same as customers from 10 or even 5 years ago. To be successful in today's digital world, businesses must collect data and then analyze it. Businesses already have some data at their fingertips such as sales receipts and inventory logs, but today's digital customer has much more to offer.

• email addresses (for periodic email communication to remind your customers you're still here)
• survey results (to ask customers what they want, need, like best)
• web site behaviors (Which pages were viewed the most? Least? Which caused customers to leave your site?)
• web site traffic (Where are your customers from? Are they existing or potential customers?)
• customer preferences
• customer desired services or items for sale

Businesses need to become familiar with the digital world and all the data it has to offer. EFP Technology Solutions can help small businesses set up and initiate data collection for data-driven decisions.

Data Analysis

Once businesses have data to view, they have to know what to do with it. EFP Technology Solutions can teach you how to make sense of the data you have. A trainer can sit with you while you analyze your data and show you more efficient ways to work, or a trainer can expand your skill set by sharing advanced formulas and features in the program you are using. No new software will be involved; EFP Technology Solutions understands that small businesses are on a tight budget. If your small business does not have any software, EFP Technology Solutions will show you free software on the Internet that you can download and begin using immediately.

If you like to be in the driver's seat, EFP Technology Solutions can help you build your data analyzing skills through one-on-one assistance as you look at your data. The focus is on you and what will help you make data-driven decisions.

If you already have enough to do, and you would prefer having someone else analyze your data, EFP Technology Solutions is prepared to create written explanations of your data with charts and graphs and walk you through it to make sure you understand all of it. You can also choose to have your data formatted so you can more easily manipluate, sort, and search it creating myriad ways to view the data to answer question you might have.

For more information on how EFP Technology Solutions can help you with your Data Collection and Data Analysis, explore the Training section of the website.

K-12 Educational Data Analysis

Today's schools have myriad opportunities to collect data: student data, demographic data, teacher data, testing data, etc. Taking advantage of these opportunities can be daunting and overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be with EFP Technology Solutions walking you through the process.

Educational Data Collection

With the availability of Student Response Systems, SRS, and digital reports from testing sources, data is readily available for the individual classroom teacher as well as the department/grade level leader, and the school administrators. From standardized tests to skills websites, to formative and summative assessments, we have more data available than ever before. However, many who have access to the data are overlooking or ignoring its value due to lack of time, lack of analytical skills, and lack of confidence. But it doesn't have to be that way. EFP Technology Solutions can help teachers and administrators see the opportunities that lie in wait to be collected.

Maybe you want to know if there are patterns among the data showing consistently performing teachers. Identifying teachers who consistently show student improvement can provide an opportunity to observe the teacher for others to recreate the magic in that classroom. Patterns among specific standards can result in the identification of strengths and weaknesses within the curriculum and materials used in the classroom. Without such analysis weak links will be overlooked when they could have been identified and remediated.

Educational Data Analysis

Once you or your school has collected data, analyzing it can be a daunting task. Sometimes it seems that too much data have been collected; sometimes it seems too few data have been collected. EFP Technology Solutions can help individual teachers, small groups, and administrators improve their data analyzing skills. Beginners will feel more confident and comfortable using a spreadsheet. Intermediate users will strengthen their skills and learn new features they didn't know existed. They will improve their efficiency and will be able to apply new skills immediately. Proficient users will learn advanced formulas that will identify strengths and weaknesses among students, teachers, methods, and curricula.

For more information on workshops offered, please explore the Training portion of the website.

If you would prefer having the analysis done for you, EFP Technology Solutions will break down the data based on your goals and questions. The final product will be presented in both paper and electronic form. The paper report will include written explanations of the data with easy to read graphs and charts. Additionally, you will recieve a digital copy of the data with filters applied to highlight the answers to your questions such as which students fit the criteria of free/reduced lunch +minority +met the goal. Any number of criteria can be applied to give you the answers you seek.

Sources of Educational Data

• MAP, Measures of Academic Progress
• State Tests such as PSSA, PASS, Keystone State Exam
• ITBS
• PSAT
• SAT/ACT
• USA Test Prep
• Study Island
• Compass Odyssey
• Student Response Systems

Data Formats

• Crystal Reports
• Excel
• CSV
• Text
• Paper

Please contact Eileen at EFP Technology Solutions (eileen@efptechnologysolutions.com) for a Free Consultation about how your needs can be met.